Plot
The city rulers and government officials of the Sung Dynasty in 11th century China were so corrupt and oppressive that they inspired a group of men and women to band together as Chinese Robin Hoods - the honorable 108 mountain bandits who became outlaws by choice and rejecting the rule of corrupt officials. Despite being outlaws, they lived by a rigorous and scrupulous ethical code of conduct, pledged to end the repression of the evil government officials. Though they lived outside of the law, the 108 were greatly admired by the common people, for they alone had the courage and strength to challenge the government's corruption.
The leader of the 108, Heavenly King, is ambushed by the bodyguard of a highly placed Chinese official, Golden Spear. The 108 vow to avenge his death, with Black Whirlwind answering Heavenly King’s last request, that someone “pull out his heart.” The de facto leaders of the 108, Welcome Rain and Clever Star, decide given Golden Spear’s skill, that Golden Spear’s former classmate, Jade Dragon, would be the best person to assist them in their revenge. The 108 note that in addition to Jade Dragon, they would gain the services of Jade Dragon’s bodyguard, Young Dragon, who has no peer in martial arts. They send Clever Star and Black Whirlwind into the Northern Capitol to make contact with Jade Dragon. Disguised as a fortune teller with an idiot savant acolyte, Clever Star and Black Whirlwind tell Jade Dragon that a great calamity will befall him if he does not travel 1000 miles to the Southeast. Jade Dragon is skeptical of this advice and asks Young Dragon what he thinks. By this time, Young Dragon has recognized Black Whirlwind, and knowing of his hot temper provokes him into a fight. Black Whirlwind is quickly defeated and the two bandits are confined. Clever Star knows of Jade Dragon’s integrity and compassion, and uses reverse psychology on him, suggesting that he would be rewarded for turning them over to the authorities. Jade Dragon intends to let them go, but the steward of the household, who has been having an affair with Jade Dragon’s wife, sees reporting the presence of the bandits as a way to take Jade Dragon’s fortune and his wife for himself. Just as Clever Star and Black Whirlwind are leaving, General Wen comes to Jade Dragon’s house. Jade Dragon orders Young Dragon to escort them out the back. Jade Dragon confronts General Wen and refuses to be arrested, stating instead that he will go to see the governor himself. Of course, once he gets to the governor’s he is arrested. Young Dragon subsequently breaks Jade Dragon out of jail, but when he leaves him in a small hostel, to go for help, the authorities come and take Jade Dragon back into custody. Young Dragon attempts to rob two men on the road in order to get money to go to the mountains for help, but the men turn out to be Lion Claw and Fearless One of the mountain brothers. Lion Claw takes Young Dragon to the mountains to meet with the brothers, while Fearless One returns to the city to reconnoiter. Once in the city, Fearless One sees Jade Dragon about to be executed and he single-handedly intervenes, despite his cry that, “The mountain brothers have arrived!” He manages to stop the execution, temporarily freeing Jade Dragon and killing several of the city guards before being captured. When he and Jade Dragon are brought before the governor, The Fearless One demonstrates the meaning of his name by threatening the governor, the entire city and incapacitating yet another guard with the very chain that is holding him captive. Meanwhile, Young Dragon meets with the hierarchy of the 108 and they plan to covertly enter the city in order to stop the execution and free Jade Dragon and the Fearless One. The mountain brothers sneak into the city and take strategic positions around the execution site. When Jade Dragon and Fearless One are brought out by the guards, Black Whirlwind shouts, “The mountain brothers are all here!” The brothers attack the city guards, this time overcoming them. They march to Jade Dragon’s house where Magic Sword confronts Jade Dragon’s wife, telling her that her last day has come, and dragging her by her hair into the great hall of the house, where the brothers have assembled and Jade Dragon has been restored to his seat as ruler of the house to pass judgment on his unfaithful wife and his disloyal steward. Jade Dragon immediately kills the steward but hesitates when he sees the look of fear of imminent death on his wife’s face. Young Dragon implores him to finish his task, but he cannot, so Young Dragon kills her himself. Jade Dragon is unable to watch her death and averts his eyes. Justice having been served, the brothers begin their march out of the city, but as they leave, they find Golden Spear and his troops awaiting them. The troops of the mountain brothers have been standing by for such an event and the two forces clash in an immense battle. Golden Spear’s forces are routed, so Golden Spear throws down the gauntlet of personal challenge contending that he and his student’s skills are superior and that the mountain brothers can win only due to numerical superiority. Golden Spear’s five students enter individual combat with Leopard, Black Whirlwind, Tigress, Magic Sword and Fearless One. During these fights, Golden Spear challenges Jade Dragon. The brothers win all of their fights; the only casualty to the brothers is that Fearless One is non-fatally wounded. Jade Dragon is still fighting Golden Spear long after the five brothers have defeated Golden Spear’s students, and Clever Star observes that he could defeat him if he truly wants to but sentiment is getting in the way. Young Dragon leaps into the fray, but only throws Golden Spear around apparently feeling the death blow is not his, but Jade Dragon’s to administer. Again, Young Dragon begs him to administer the justice that Golden Spear deserves, but we never find out if Jade Dragon is going to deliver the fatal blow because Black Whirlwind, citing his promise to Heavenly King, attacks Golden Spear with two large battle axes, slicing his chest and stomach several times. Despite these grave wounds, Golden Spear remains alive. After his declaration that Jade Dragon is the leader of the mountain bandits, he stops everyone from approaching and states that he will die by his own hand. With a flipping motion, he plunges his own hands into his wounds and dies as he falls to the ground. The mountain brothers, seeing that their quest for vengeance is complete, ride back to their mountain lair.
Characters
Protagonists
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Antagonists
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